upgrading (downgrading really) my laptop.

[zanta78]

Well, I already posted this to notebook review, maybe you all can help better? Here is what I posted...

First of all, I have a Thinkpad x61t and a thinkpenguin snares (16 gb ram, i7-4700mq). I am looking for something inbetween the two. I am selling my thinkpenguin, as it is too heavy and I don't like the screen, it fatigues my eyes after a lot of programming.

I was considering a x220, but I am thinking I want a more up to date laptop, something a little newer. Maybe I just need convienced to buy a x220 with an i7 and a ssd.

What is your budget?
Around $600

What country will you be buying this in?
United States

What size notebook do you prefer?
Ultraportable (11 - 12-inch screen)
Thin and Light (13 - 14-inch screen)

What brands do you like or dislike?
Like: Lenovo Thinkpads
Dislike: Apple

Would you consider a refurbished laptop?
Yes

What are the primary tasks you need this notebook for?
Web Surfing, Office and Productivity Software, Listening to Music, Computer Programming

Many tasks related to my CS Major.

Where will you be using this laptop?
Will be used different places

How many hours of battery life do you need?
Around 5

Will you be buying online or in store?
online

Which OS do you prefer?
Linux

List the screen resolutions that interest you:
Standard Resolution (1366 x 768)
High Resolution (1600 x 900)

Do you prefer a glossy or matte screen?
Matte is fine

Is the laptops design important to you?
No

Approximately what date will you be buying this laptop?
Around 12/18/2014

How long do you want this laptop to last?
4-5 years

How much storage capacity do you need?
500 GB

Are you interested in SSD for storage?
Yes

Do you want a built-in optical drive, what type?
No

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the Forum.
Since you don't seem to mind non-classical keyboards (judging by that Snares), your best option currently would be a (decent) X230 or (better) X240 with IPS screen.
Weight ~ 3Lbs.
You might get a used one just around your budget.

[zanta78]

I think it comes down to the x220 and the x230. I really dislike the think penguins keyboard compared to the x61t. I just like its speed. I know the x230 is only 10% faster on the CPU side, I'm not sure if that is enough to warrant a purchase.

[Medessec]

I think the X220 will suit you just fine. However- if you're looking for anything in the way of screen space, keep in mind the X220 and X230, and even the X220 Tablet only have 1366x768 res screens. Pretty good for 12" inches, but if you want anything more, the X240 has a 1920x1080 option. The X200s and X201s also have 1440x900 options- my friend who attends UC Merced is using a WXGA+ X200s for programming in Linux, and he loves it.

[dr_st]

I have one of these X220 with IPS, Core i7 and USB 3.0. Bought one specifically because the new keyboard (X230 and on) is a deal breaker for me.

Performance-wise, it will last a long time. The high-end i7 configurations are pretty much on par with X230 and X240 (CPU-wise, GPU may lag behind). The 16GB RAM limit is going to be sufficient for a while for most common tasks (excluding possibly traditional heavy hogs like huge photo / video editing and virtual machines). with mSATAm it can support two built-in drives, which is amazing for a small machine, and the Ultrabase actually allows you to add a third drive (in place of the optical).

The key problem, as Medessec mentioned, is the low resolution of the built-in LCD. It is simply not enough for any serious work, if you plan to use it as your primary machine on-the-go, without the ability to attach to an external monitor.

If you are not hooked on the oldschool keyboard, an X240 may be a better option - higher resolution LCD, and roughly the same performance as the X220/X230, but with a low-voltage CPU, which means longer battery life and cooler-running system.

However, the lack of dedicated physical trackpoint buttons (which are instead integrated into the touchpad) may be a deal-breaker of a different kind, as is the quality of the touchpad itself, which is not deemed high. Lenovo has acknowledged this issue with the *40 series, and it appears that, at least the T/W *50 revision will be fixing it. It remains to be seen if a similar revision will be applied to the X series.

[bit_twiddler]

The X200s and X201s also have 1440x900 options- my friend who attends UC Merced is using a WXGA+ X200s for programming in Linux, and he loves it.

I have to second this... these are quite adequate machines for Linux development, unless you are doing
something really weird like heavy-duty java development with one or more virtual machines lying around.
For that, you really need 16G or more.

900 vertical lines is more or less the minimum for software development, otherwise the X220 would be
a superb machine.

[zanta78]

Is the x240 still thinkpad quality though? Is it as durable as the x220?

[dr_st]

Long-term durability may not be evaluated fully until the systems have been several years on the market, but based on current impressions - it did not seem any less well-built than the X220 to me...

[zanta78]

Now my only problem is selling this thinkpenguin Such a niche buy, no-one wants it.

[Medessec]

Someone on here probably will. Post a FS ad in the marketplace!

We're a pretty strange group of people on here. One of us is bound to want a laptop like that.

[zanta78]

Put it up, I'll be crossing my fingers!

[zanta78]

I am absolutely torn between the x220 and x230. I don't have huge attachments to the classic keyboard, but I'd love to . But the GPU upgrade would be nice for digital art and light games (even though I mainly play pbp RPGs and muds on laptops.) If I do choose the x230, then it is a battle betwen the x230 and the x240. The only reason is die to the resolution and weight. But then there is the button less track point. Ew.

[dr_st]

I don't think the GPU upgrade (between X220 and X230) will be at all significant for the use cases you mentioned.

[zanta78]

My x220 i7 8GB 128GB SSD should be in by Friday. Hope I won't regret not getting the almighty macbook wannabe :p No responses on the thinkpenguin though, I am a little scared.

[Medessec]

Just keep at it- it is a particularly rare and obscure machine, but if you keep it exposed, the right sort of buyer will eventually come across. It's usually the case with big laptops like this- it took me weeks to sell a W700, and both W700s I've sold in the past few years went to international buyers.